We (Tectona Trust - see below) are helping people who are recovering from drug addiction to rebuild their lives. They need to gain the vital inner strength ('resilience') to be able to stay clean / dry from now onward. Detox and Rehab are just the start of a life-long process of living differently, a massive change to their previous life.

A Recovery Voyage on the Tectona really changes people's lives. We are a 'therapeutic community afloat' on the Plymouth tall ship TECTONA.
It's tough to take this on, but once people are on the boat it becomes a joyous and massively strengthening experience.

£500 pays for each person to join a team of 12 Recovery People for a week-long offshore sailing voyage. They have to be in strong Recovery from drugs +/- alcohol, and to be ABSTINENT. They are drug-tested on boarding.

Tectona is a 89-yr old solid wooden sailing boat - a gaff ketch - with 12 guest crew berths. The Recovery crew sail the boat and do everything required under the watchful eye of 3 professional Sea Staff. They: raise the anchor (takes all 12 people); hoist and trim the huge sails; do the navigation; keep lookout (even through the night); steer the ship; cook and clean, and join in a daily group discussion led by the Skipper. Hard work but huge fun.

What they say:
"The voyage opened my eyes to what can be achieved in my new life."
"The voyage helped me conquer some of my fears, eg: talking with strangers around the dinner table, easily getting on with people I'd never met before."
"For those who sailed on Tectona, our completion of treatment rate has gone up from 46% to over 80%." (Phoenix Futures rehab charity, 2013.)

Tectona is operated by the Island Trust charity. The cost of each voyage is made up of salaries for the Sea Staff; maintenance and certification of Tectona; safety equipment; moorings; food, fuel and running repairs. This is a 100% non-commercial operation with many Volunteers making it happen.

More info at: www.tectona.org.uk